How Brick Twp. saved $450,000 in tax dollars

BRICK – An overhaul of the township government, which includes the elimination of several senior management positions, will result in more than $450,000 in savings for taxpayers, officials said.

As part of the cost savings, the township has reduced the number of departments from six to five, with the Department of Community Affairs and Land Use being eliminated and those services absorbed into the administration department, Mayor John Ducey said.

"I think most people would agree that this is a step in the right direction for our township," Council President Susan Lydecker said. "I know our township employees are up to the task, they are very capable people."

The seven-member Township Council approved the consolidation plan during its July 22 meeting and the changes went into effect July 23.

The changes include the elimination of five senior management positions including the director and deputy director of the land use and community development, deputy director of law, deputy director of parks and recreation, and the deputy director of public works.

Earlier this year, Ducey fired Juan Bellu from his $156,824 a year position as director of land use and community development and Dave Francese from his $104,530 a year position as deputy director of parks and recreation. Both position were never filled, Ducey said. The remaining three positions have remained opened for years.

In addition, a variety of township employees were moved to other department bringing the savings of the reorganization to more than $451,000. For example, one township clerk is being demoted and losing $2,518 in annual pay. In all, six people are taking pay cuts at a collective salary loss of $156,651. The remaining savings will come from reduced pension and payroll taxes.

Since the restructuring plan was approved after the adoption of the township's $97.3 million budget, the savings are not included in this year's spending plan, Ducey said. The money that is saved will go into surplus for next year's budget and could be used to offset taxes, he said. One cent on the 2014 municipal budget is equal to a little more than $1 million in spending, officials said.

The plan also places the maintenance of township-owned parks under the public works department, Ducey said. In the past, the maintenance of the parks fell under the recreation department.

"This allows a lot more manpower for the department to complete its tasks of sanitation, utility crew and maintaining our parks,'' the mayor said.

Ducey said the changes will benefit taxpayers in the future.

"I believe in smaller government. This restructuring does just that, it makes our township government smaller,'' he said. "It saves money not only this year but into the future.''

Despite the changes, the public should not see any changes in the day-to-day operation of the township, Ducey said.

"It will not have an impact on services because we were top heavy and the management positions are the ones being eliminated. But the regular everyday workers are still here to serve our residents,'' he said.

Nicholas Huba: 732-557-5617; nhuba@app.com

IF YOU GO

The Brick Township Council is scheduled to meet Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Normandy Beach Improvement Association, 541 Broad St.